Galileo on the World Systems: A New Abridged Translation and GuideGalileo's 1632 book, Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems, Ptolemaic and Copernican, comes alive for twentieth-century readers thanks to Maurice Finocchiaro's brilliant new translation and presentation. Condemned by the Inquisition for its heretical proposition that the earth revolves around the sun, Galileo's masterpiece takes the form of a debate, divided into four "days," among three highly articulate gentlemen. Finocchiaro sets the stage with his introduction, which not only provides the human and historical framework for the Dialogue but also admits the reader gracefully into the basic non-Copernican understanding of the universe that would have been shared by Galileo's original audience. The translation of the Dialogue is abridged in order to highlight its essential content, and Finocchiaro gives titles to the various parts of the debate as a guide to the principal topics. By explicating his own critical reading of this text that is itself an exercise in critical reasoning on a gripping real-life controversy, he illuminates those universal, perennial activities of the human mind that make Galileo's book a living document. This is a concrete, hands-on introduction to critical thinking. The translation has been made from the Italian text provided in volume 7 of the Critical National Edition of Galileo's complete works edited by Antonio Favaro. The translator has also consulted the 1632 edition, as well as the other previous English translations, including California's 1967 version. Galileo on the World Systems is a remarkably nuanced interpretation of a classic work and will give readers the tools to understand and evaluate for themselves one of the most influential scientific books in Western civilization. |
Other editions - View all
Galileo on the World Systems: A New Abridged Translation and Guide Galileo Galilei Limited preview - 1997 |
Galileo on the World Systems: A New Abridged Translation and Guide Galileo Galilei,Maurice A. Finocchiaro No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
analysis angle annual motion annual orbit appear argu Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's astronomers authority called cause celestial celestial equator celestial sphere changes circle circumference claim conclusion context Copernican Copernican system Copernicus corresponds critical reasoning Dialogue diameter discussion distance diurnal motion earth earth's motion ecliptic empiricism evaluation example explained exsecant extrusion Favaro Finocchiaro 1980 fixed stars Galileo Galileo Affair geokinetic geostatic happen heavenly bodies heavens heliocentrism interpretation involves issue Jupiter logical mathematical means ment methodological principle methodological reflection moon motionless move namely natural motion objection observation orbital revolution original argument passage philosopher physical planetary planets Pope Urban VIII premise proposition Ptolemaic question regard revolution rhetoric rotation SAGREDO SALVIATI scientific selection sense SIMPLICIO speed stellar sphere straight line subargument sunspots surface tangent telescope term terrestrial globe theory things tides tion true truth understand universe Venus vertical fall